I am a postgraduate student at the University of Nottingham. As part of my business masters I am currently working alongside a Visualization and Simulation company called AIMS Solutions who specialize in bespoke training simulator systems and software. In the last two years AIMS has developed a number of physical equipment simulators for the port sector (cranes, tractor units, fork lift trucks etc). These use similar technology and methodology to aircraft flight simulators but have been designed to be much simpler to use and are aimed at lower cost industrial equipment operations. These simulators sell for somewhere in the region of £50k to £150k. Interest has been strong in the port sector and they have a route to market identified and in place.
My task is to find new opportunities/markets for their training simulators. The larger lift trucks outside of just the port sector (10-60 tonne lift capacity) have been identified as a market that could benefit from the use of such simulators for training purposes. I am posting on this forum in the hope that some of you may have some insider knowledge into the forklift market in general and could possibly give me your thoughts or advice in particular with regards to the possible use of simulators for the training of the larger model forklifts.
In terms of more specific queries, I have a number of additional questions which I would be grateful if anyone could provide some answers to.
Is there a significant difference between the smaller and larger liftrucks in terms of training and operation?
Roughly how many people (with regards to the larger models in particular) are participating in forklift training in the UK every year?
I have been quoted an average price of 200 pounds per day for forklift training courses lasting from 1 to 5 days, is this accurate or do prices and course length vary considerably?
As it stands, AIMS can provide evidence that their simulators are saving their port sector clients money (accident reductions, efficiency etc). When considering the market for large forklifts outside of the port sector, who would probably be more interested in these simulators, training providers, manufacturers (Svetruck, Kalmar, Konecranes etc.) or even someone else?
AIMS are trying to look down the cost scale when targeting potential equipment for their simulators. You are probably well aware that expensive equipment such as airplanes and trains already have very sophisticated simulators but equipment such as cranes, large forklifts and the like can be very expensive and cause a great deal of damage if mishandled and yet often do not have simulators available for them. With that in mind what I'm asking really is do you believe there is a need for a simulator for heavy forklifts?
If you have any information or thoughts concerning these questions or even on the use of simulators for forklift training in general, I would greatly appreciate your advice.
Thanks in advance.
(p.s. If you do reply I would be grateful if you could provide me with some personal details such as a company position etc since Aims will probably be unhappy if I turn around and say "some person on the internet says this...")
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I think the concept of a realistic forklift simulator is awesome and would be a great tool for operators to gain some seat time with no risk and without the cost of having another person supervise them. I have had the chance to see some real aircrafts sims and they are good enough to train real airline pilots, but they are millons of dollars. I tried out a forklift simulator here in the state earlier this year, it did function and would provide some very basic knowledge to a person with zero forklift experience and would work on any desktop pc. But when it came right down to it, using the keyboard to maneuver the unit was completely unrealistic and even with the steering wheel and other controls they use, it still has the feel of a cheap video game. Until the technology and software get much better and more realistic, as well as cost effective, using a simulator will just be a novelty.
Neat simulator, it can have great graphics but it has nothing to do with training real operators. it is a video game!!
There is a rather neat simulator program from Still that can be downloaded for the website. Called the Forklift Truck Simulator 2009. Google it.
I find the topic of training simulators very interesting. In my experience there are several simulator manufacturers who provide visually great simulators but are quite like developed video games as the simulation isn't based on real-time simulation of dynamics which in my point of view is the only way to provide a authentic experience. Not to underestimate the importance of the visual part. In order to professionally train, the simulator has to obey the laws of physics as does the real machinery. Obviously the price is an issue when speaking about simulators but training centers and learning institutes should be great customers (especially when training large machinery) as simulators do not tie productive machinery. This comment is not related to AIMS, as I am not aware of the company and their simulation technology. Just a general point of view.
Edit: Didn't realize it was a one year old topic :-)
Thank you to all of you that replied! I'm coming to the end of this project now and having looked at various resources I would say that whilst a forklift simulator may seem like a good idea, the practical considerations and lack of interest will probably mean that AIMS won't be pursuing this. Having said that, I have one final lead to follow. I have been told that 90% of the large forklift trucks (the types that AIMS were considering) are sold into either the port sector or steel industry. Since AIMS are already selling their simulators to ports I think that the steel industry might be good way to go. I wondered if any of you had any thoughts on this. By the way Dan M, I sent you an email to the address that you gave me but perhaps you haven't received it, I am still wondering about the forklift simulator that you have been testing because I would really like to know who makes it! could you please let me know as soon as you can since I am running out of time on this project and that info would be really useful.
The cost of the simulator from the NSB is very expensive for me as a trainer. I doubt my clients would pay more just because I had this simulator, although the program is interesting, and there may be a market for it somewhere. As an end user with quite a few operators, and some novice operators every so often, the program is great, but as a trainer, my time during the day training is dear as it is, and in the best case scenario, I would have to leave it behind at the clients.
I think the suggested cost of the simulator may be too high for most, and I'd think a lower cost package would be the better way to go and make it more accessible for the masses rather than the few. As already expressed by others for many customers they want on site training for their individual application, so you cannot expect a simulator to cover all of the training, but it would be a fantastic way of giving a sort of pre-training.
If it was me I'd package software, a seat frame, a pedal assembly and offer a number of different hydraulic controls, with the purchaser needing to invest in a PC and screen of their choosing. This would be a fraction of the price of the simulator you referred to and would be much more appealing to many dealers and training companies globally I think.
There is a new simulator in the US that I have had the opportunity to test a segment of it. I have also been called upon to comment on this software, and have been asked to provide further info regarding the program.
I would prefer to respond to direct detailled questions regarding you queries and you can email me at idltraining at bellnet dot ca
Danny
Normandy I agree with your comments. Most regulations for operator training require the companies to provide "simulated" training experience for the jobs the operator will be performing for the company & in the environment they will be working. It would be impoosible to produce a simulation for all the many and varied work enviroments there are as well as the various types of lift trucks (foot/hand) controls.
The basic principles of operation of a small (counter balanced type) unit and a larger capacity units unit are very similar. Larger capacity units have greater issues of visibility for the operator and the load handling becomes a bit more complex - paper rolls, conatainers, concrete, granite slabs, etc, etc.
There was a Spanish Company from Vitoria that made very good simulators.
I don't think they sold very well but I think they are still in business.
Can't remember their name but I can look it up if you cannot trace them.
I think the cost of building the simulator is just to much and I doubt if it was really the same as the real thing.
Maybe for the large machines you are talking about the cost involved in getting it "Real " maybe be justified.
The cost ratio between a simulator and a ship (and/or a Plane) and a forklift I think makes simulators for forklifts difficult.
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